Rotary cylinder lock provided with flat tumbler elements



E. UHER Jan. 19, 1954 ROTARY CYLINDER LOCK PROVIDED WITH FLAT TUMBLER ELEMENTS Filed Oct. 25, V1949 I 8v INVENTM 'am rim( ATTO R N EYS Patented Jan. 19,v 1954 UNITED STATE ROTARY CYLINDER LOCK PROVIDED WITH FLAT TUMBLER ELEMENTS Y Edmond Uher, Paris, France Application October 25, 1949, Serial No. 123,345

Claims priority, application Switzerland April 7, 1949 (Cl. 'I0-419) 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a rotary cylinder lock provided with flat tumbler elements.

It is known that rotary cylinder' locks oi various .types can be picked by a skilled burglar; the picking being eiected by first slightly vrotating the inner cylinder until this rotation is stopped by the lateral edge of at least one tumbler element bearing against the side of the groove of the outer `cylinder in which said tumbler elements are engaged in the lockingposition, by moving a rst tumbler element towards its retracted position in orderto detect. by a corner of said tumbler element the line of separation between said inner cylinder and said outer cylinder, which indicates that said tumbler elementhas been Vbrought into its retracted position, by slightly further rotating the inner cylinder in order to maintain said rst tumbler element in its retracted position while bringing the next tumbler element in close contactwith the side of the groove and so on, the picking being effected step by step until all tumbler elements are brought into the retracted position.

The object of the invention is to provide a rotary cylinder lock in which this possibility of unwanted opening of the lock isV denitely prevented.

According to the invention, the grooves of the outer cylinder are made, at least along a part of their length, broader than the slots in the inner cylinder, so that the detectingof the separation line betweenV the inner and outer cylinders by the corners of tumbler elements requires a certain angular `relative displacement of the two cylinders while means are provided to positively lock thetumbler elements in their closing position as soon as the inner cylinder is rotated, even by avery small angle, without using for this purpose the particular key of the lock.

According to one feature of the invention, the locking means comprise a series of independent elastic tongues each of which is located adjacent a longitudinal edge of a tumbler element, said edges being each provided with at least one notch, means to urge radially each of said tongues towards the notch of the tumbler element adjacent to which it is located, means to bring all of said tongues into a position removed from said notches, the operation of said means being controlled bythe rotation of the barrel, so that in every position of the same, in which the key can be inserted into or withdrawn from said barrel, and in such a position only, said tumbler elements are released and become free to move in *a radial direction.

The invention will be more easily understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which are shown, as illustrations, some embodiments thereof.

In these drawings: Y

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional rotary cylinder lock provided with dat tumbler elements, each guidingv compartment containing two free tumbler elements which may be actuated positively towards their withdrawn position by means of a double key, without being urged in either direction by any spring.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the rotary cylinder lock shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view showing a rotary cylinder lock according to the invention.

' Fig. 4 shows the same rotaryl cylinder lock as Fig. 3, the inner cylinder having been rotated by a small angle.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a practical embodiment of the locking mechanism according to the invention, being the mechanism appearing in the right half of Fig. 6.

Fig. 5a represents a perspective View, parts being broken away, of the locking mechanism appearing in the left half of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of a rotary cylinder lock into which said mechanism has been incorporated, the left half of the figure being, in part, a section taken on the line VI-VI of Fig.

5a and the right half of the ligure being, in part, Y

a section taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows in -both instances.

Fig. 6a represents a top plan view of the cylinder shown in Fig. 6, bearing the section lines VI--VI.

Fig. '7 is a top View of two tumbler elements the longer sides of which are provided with notches; Vand Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one half of an outer cylinder the longitudinal groove of which comprises a narrowed portion having the same width as the corresponding inner cylinder slot.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown at l the lock casing in which the outer cylinder 24 is secured. The outer cylinder is provided with two longitudinal slots It, as shown in Fig. 2, the width of which, in conventional rotary cylinder locks, corresponds substantially to that of the tumbler elements 5 and 6. The guiding plates 4 are secured in the inner cylinder 3 and constitute, together with the lateral plates 9 securing said guiding plates, a rigid cage; the intermediate 3 spaces between guiding plates 4, which are all of the same size, are used for guiding axially the tumbler elements 5 and B which, in the example shown, are arranged pairwise in said intermediate spacesmand cany move freely in amradial direction. I` *n'lazl'i tumbler elenrientis` provided with a slot 3I..(Fig. 7) through which the shank of the key 'l passesvwhen inserted intothe lock and the edges of which are acted upon by the active. outlines. 8 of said key, whiclimproyides' 4it positive control of the corresponding tumbler element. .,In theexample shown in Eig. l, the inner cylinder is in the unlocked position. When key 'I is witlfidraw'n` from th innerA cylinder, the tumbler elements are displacedradiallymunder the control of the key outline and engage the longitudinal slots I0 of the outer cylinder 2,l thus preventing the inner cylinder from rotat ing, said inner cylinder being thus locked.

`When trying to open th lock, Without. the use di a proper key, the. burglar hasy .turnove ,all tumbler elements out of 'engagement with. the longitudinal slots I0, and into register with the inner cylinder, so as to unlock said cylinder. Since the internal mechanism is. not visiblesf'rom outside, the burgler can only rely on his touch.; he has thus to rotate the. inner cylinder by an angle determined by the lateral clearance between the tumbler elements and the 'sides of thev slot; until he has detected lby means of the outer corners of the tumbler elements, the separation line. be,- tween the outer and. inner cylinders, which permits that tumbler, upon which the. burgler is acting at thev moment, to remain in. the desired midposition. If thisop'eration is successfully realized with all tumbler elements, the inner cylinder may be unlocked and then freely rotated, so thatv the lock can be opened.

This invention makes said operation impossible dueto the tumbler locking deviceshcwn in 3. ThisA device comprises ra roller I5, se'cured on: a three-armed' lever I3, rotatively mounted about a pivoting point I I4I said roller being adapted to penetrate, under the action ofL a tension spring I-ll, into a corresponding recessvv 20 ii'r the-vwalliof L5 the outer cylinder. v 4 A In` theV inner hollow space of the inner vcylinder 3f are'di'spo'sed leaf springs the tongue shaped pori tionJ-pfwhich extends into thecage compartments through a Slot providedf'or thisvpurpose-in one ofgthelateral plates 9 (Fig. 4l)

y Said tumbler elements are provided on one of their longer 'sides with cheer-more notches I, which are so arranged that, when one" tumbler elementvi's in one of it'sen'd positions, the correspending notch is located at the level 'of-the vcori responding tongue I8. A iinger I6, carried-by the three-armed lever I3, projects into the hollow space of the inner cylinder; saidyrige'r being` adapted to retract thetongues I8 from-the notches I9 (when roller I5 i's'pawle'd intorecess 29 o'i'the outer cylinder), so that, in this'po'sition of the inner cylinder, each tumbler element may Ibe freely displaced (e. g. bymeans ofthe proper key). However, as soon-asthe cylinder is rotated, even by a small angle (`e; g. in the direction oi" thel arrow as shownV inFig. 4') roller I5 is urged out of recess 2D; which-causesa tilting-oflever I3, so that the springl tongue I8 is thus released by finger Hia'nd penetratesr into-the corresponding cage compartment; When the tumbler element is in one of its.end;positionsthe tongue I8 en*- gages with the corresponding notch Ill-ofthe tumbler; element; to positively.` lock: the. same. When the tumbler element is not in one of its 4 end positions, :but is in an intermediate position, the tongue rests resiliently against a longitudinal edge of said tumbler element. As soon as the latter is displaced, under any exterior action, the resilient. tongue isizawledinto one of the notches, after which 'said tumbler element is locked als pryious'ly, so that any subsequent picking operation becomes impossible. However, as 4soon as the inner cylinderisbrought back to that ADXSTI)l'fQl, in Whiclr it is leSlIitly h'lid by r'llr the resilient tongue is retracted by )riger I Ii, so that, in this particular position of the inner lcylinder, the key ,can b e inserted into, or withdrawn from, .the lock without any diiculty sincethe Vtumbler elements can now be freely moved.

The efficiency of this device is further increased in that the two longitudinal grooves Ill of the outer cylinder 2 are wider than the tumbler elementstjso-thatzuppn rotationllof Ytliezinner, cylinder the tumbler` elements will be lo'ckedpe'f' VV'for instance, the, perliort` L? O f il?? nbr emeflsk proiectingout of theiimer; Grnder,- lijs.- taled @dse Il.. Onci thellgiludm gfOIU. whereby any detectie-1i by .teething 0i thev Seilf l ration linefbetweeri th..tw9..9il1df with .th positively locked til -,el elmnts P'lfelfd,-

Another embodiment of,` the.. tumbler locking deviceV accordingr to the invention is. shown in Figs, uand. .The .loqkiile S, gerer? ,flired theteethrofa comb inthe-.owing direte-6irespondinate thei-gf;llleillml9l @1611??11'115 pairs or tumbler' elements, 'prei/ide@ ifi the cy1inder.frhefsuter @1.19.5423,pfihefie teeth are bent; inwardly @engage with. i118.- rlolhes ,0f the tumbler elem.. Two--1eter.a1iieth 2.4. Cif comb 2:] are'jdesignelto exert pressureupon a roller 28 positioned;inaalongitudinal -slotxoithe inner cylinder. this prssllrsieildnsigBlish blfl 28 into a longitudinal groove `provided lin the inner surface ofv thef outer cylinders@ as to resili: ently km-hemmt cylinder wlinih Serials. in its normal lockins-rositpn- Thsenf 23 .Q th Comb teeth: are; retracted .,frpmnilie, turiler notchesbr: means Qi a leverrlilemembel having two lateral arms 21 disposed btweerrroller 28 andV teeth.; 214-., and aenirel; air-m25'. uit upon the-downwardly beni, 110.15012 9, 02? teeth 22. It Wili'now. beiapparentihatiniiiel gliiri 0f the. immersi/linden away-irom'liis., 'normal 19.91.5- ing. position willI fome' roller 8.1mm Oilhelengif tudinal;` groove .Y against the A action or, teeth 24 wherebyihis, roller Willaactuate, lever. .25, 11i e marmer toy 1'e1easethe-fcomb teeth 2,2. Serieel; the same mayv 'engaeefthe.Corresponding nqbhe .Qi the tumbler elements morder tofhold. thelatter against movement. .i

If two tumbler. elements; are previas@ l.; web guiding. compartment. there .provided ,inthe hQ11ow-inner;.srace of;l thel im1r.,.c5flinds r we comb-.likezsprinesbr similar-leelsingdevies @he 011 either `Sle Ofi @1Q .tllmllel lml'li llqethe same Fie. 'o areatherrpr0rided-Qn Qi their longer sides,A with. the; .blocking notches! 9 and. on theirAopposi-te flongerg'sides with, a singie long notch 3,0 asfdeep asf-.notches Igubut the height of* which corresponds; to: they vertical spacing of the end edgeseofy notches I-9 Vconsidered` together. The pairs of` tumbler elementsarewsof arranged in their compartmentsthat the different outlines of` their longitudinal v Aedges are alwaysV inopposition, i.` e. onV oney side @Leach pairgoi tumbler elements.; one; offr theytumbled minents,V 0f rSaid Y pair offers notches, such as I .95;A while-theatricr tumbler element of each pair offers a notch, such 1as At, -so that the corresponding resilienttongue exerts a locking action only upon that tumbler element of each pair which isA provided jon said side with the locking notchesl 9.'

The locking notches i9 are located on either side of the transversal axis `(Fig. '7)l of the tumbler velement symmetrically with respect to said axis; the transversal axis of each notch is spaced from the transversal axis of the tumbler element by a distance corresponding tothe maximum radial displacement of said tumbler element in one direction. v j

` The longitudinal long notch 3B, provided on the other longitudinal edge of the tumbler element, is also` symmetrical with Vrespect tov the` transversal axis of Asaid tumbler elementand has a length greater than the maximum radial displacement of the tumbler element within the inner and outer cylinders.

In order to permit this particular arrangement of the outlines of the lateral edges of the tumbler elements, even with like tumbler elements provided with the same central slot 3 l, each type of tumbler element is manufactured with the two different longitudinal outlines.

In order to avoid any rotation of the inner cylinder without using the proper key, said rotation being possible since the longitudinal grooves of the outer cylinder are Wider than the tumbler elements, the width 32 of one or both diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves of the other cylinder is partially reduced as shown at 33 (Fig. 8), the axial length of said narrowed portion corresponding to the overall thickness of a suitably selected number of tumbler elements from that end of the cylinder at which the key is to be inserted, so that the inner cylinder may be rotated only after having completely inserted the key into the lock.

According to another feature of the invention, the first tumbler elements, adapted to be engaged in said part of the grooves having a reduced width, are not necessarily provided with notches and no tongue is provided opposite to the edges of said tumbler elements. Thus, the burglar is allowed to act upon these rst tumbler elements which he may succeed to bring into their retracted position, but, as soon as he reaches the rst tumbler element pertaining to the wider portion of the groove, the locking mechanism according to the invention begins to act and any further picking operation is made strictly impossible.

I claim:

1. A rotary cylinder lock comprising a, casing a provided with an innercylindrical Wall having diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves, a hollow cylindrical barrel rotatively mounted in said casing and provided with two diametrically opposed longitudinal slots, said grooves being wider than the width of said slots, a plurality of compartments in said barrel, a plurality of flat tumbler elements of generally rectangular shape slidably mounted in said barrel, two in each compartment, guided along a diameter thereof crossing the longitudinal axis of said slots and adapted to engage through one of said slots one of said grooves, each of said tumbler elements being provided on one of its longitudinal edges with at least one notch, and on their other longitudinal edge with a cut-oir portion symmetric with respect to the transversal axis of said tumbler element and having a length at least equal to twice the maximum radial displacement in one direction of the tumbler element, one half of said tumbler elements being mounted with said notches onone side of the longitudinal axis and the other half with said notches on the other side, two-sets of resilient tongues located within 'said barrel on either side of said tumbler elements, each of said tongues beingadapted to engage with ar corresponding notch of the tumbler elements when said'barrel is rotated away from its lnormal locking position while the tumbler elements Aare in their operative position, and means to retract said tongues from said notches upon rotation of the barrel to said normal locking position. g

2. A rotary cylinder lock comprising a casing provided with an inner cylindrical wall, having two diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves, a hollow cylindrical barrel rotatively Amounted in said casing and provided with twov diametrically opposed longitudinal slots, said grooves being wider than the width of said slots along a portion of the length of the latter and a width equal to that of said slots along the remaining portion of said length, the length of said remaining portion being equal to the total thickness of a given number of tumbler elements adjacent that end of the barrel at which the key is inserted, a plurality of flat tumbler elements of generally rectangular shape slidably mounted in said barrel, guided along a diameter thereof crossing the longitudinal axis of said slots and adapted to engage through one of said slots one of said grooves, said tumbler elements being provided on one of their longitudinal edges with at least one notch, a plurality of resilient tongues located within said barrel, each of said tongues being adapted to engage with a corresponding notch of certain tumbler elements when said barrel is rotated away from its normal locking position while the tumbler elements are in their operative position, and means to retract said tongues from said notches upon rotation of the barrel to said normal locking position.

3. A rotary cylinder lock comprising a casing Vprovided with an inner cylindrical wall, having two diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves,` a hollow cylindrical barrel rotatively mounted inv said casing and provided with two diametrically; opposed longitudinal slots, said grooves being, wider than the width of said slots, a pluralityof ilat tumbler elements of generally rectangular shape slidably mounted in said barrel, guided` along a diameter thereof crossing the longitudi-- nal axis of said slots and adapted to engage through one or' said slots one of said grooves, said tumbler elements being provided on one of their longitudinal edges with at least one notch, a comb constituting a plurality of resilient tongues loctaed within said barrel, each of said tongues being adapted to engage with a corresponding notch of the tumbler elements when said barrel is rotated away from its normal locking position while the tumbler elements are in their operative position, and means to retract said tongues from said notches upon rotation of the barrel to said normal locking position.

4. A rotary cylinder lock comprising a casing provided with an inner cylindrical wall, having two diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves, a hollow cylindrical barrel rotatively mounted in said casing provided with two diametrically opposed longitudinal slots, said grooves being wider than the width of said slots, a plurality of compartments in said barrel, a plurality of at Vtumbler elements of generally rectangular shape slidably mounted in said barrel, two in each compartment, guided. along a diameter thereof Grossing vthe longitudinal axis of *saidu slots:` and adapted to engage-through. one ofisai-d slots Jone of said grooves and being provided on-onev of its longitudinal edges with at least one noteng and on its other longitudinal edge witlia out-off inortion symmetric Withv respet to the ti'ansvrslal axis of said tumbler element andhaviga length at least equal twice to the. maximum radial dis"- placement. in` one direction of the tumbler lment, one half ofy said' tumbler elements being mounted with said notches on one side` of the longitudinal' axis of the barrel and tlie otli half withsaid notches onthe othe side,v two lCoriolis constituting two sets'v of resilient tong-ues located within sa-idbarrel, on either side ofsaidtumbler elements, each of said tongues. being adaptedto engage with a corresponding notch of the tumbler elements when-,said barrel ,is rotated `away k""c'nl looking fricisitio'i y)'lvljiile the tifill lements are 'in theif operative position, fid iel t retract said tongues from said notchesY upon rotation of the` bar'iel to said norir'l looking iisition'.

tfrii; EDMOND.

fec Cited the file of this patent STATES PA'I'ENTS 

